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Leo William "Bill" Burlingame

Leo William "Bill" Burlingame, 87, of 6718 Route 120, Emporium, died at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport on Thursday evening, Nov. 29, 2012.He was born Nov. 21, 1925 in Howard Siding, Pa., a son of the late Leo R. and Neva Summerson Burlingame. On Oct. 12, 1947 he and his wife, Dolores "Dee" Crosby Burlingame, were married in the first wedding to take place in the older Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.Mr. Burlingame graduated from Emporium High School in the class of 1943. He served with the U.S. Navy during WWII, where he eventually became an electrician. While in the Navy, he worked on a yard tug medium moving ships in and out of the San Francisco Bay. He retired from Sylvania at the age of 55 after over 35 years of employment. He then re-entered the workforce at Carbon City Products in St. Marys, working 15 years until the age of 70. He was a member of the American Legion Olkosky-Jessop Post 194 and the Loyal Order Of Moose Lodge #368, Emporium. He was a member of the Elk County Striders, Barbershop Harmony Society, Elk County Cloggers and the Christian Missionary & Alliance Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher. He was active as a Cub Scout master, 4H leader, had served as a Shippen Township tax collector, and was a Pa. forest fire warden for over 50 years. While working at Sylvania, he served as a union steward. Years ago he played in the “Carl and His Hillbilly Pals” band. He played in the men's softball and coed volleyball leagues. He enjoyed hunting, hiking and cross country skiing. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying many running events, including 5k runs. When he was 62, he ran a two-mile race for Jefferson County ARC in his work boots. He was a cyclist. At the age of 72, he competed in the (GOBA 300-mile) Great Ohio Bike Adventure. In 2001, when he was 75, he participated in the Cameron County Canoe Classic, paddling for the Gray Rats. He was the historian for the Mason-Grugan family. In addition to Dolores "Dee" Crosby Burlingame, he is survived by five sons, Rod Burlingame and his wife Jeanie of Reynoldsville, Dave Burlingame of Emporium, Greg Burlingame and his wife Vickie of Byrnedale, Les Burlingame and his wife Janie of DuBois, and Scott Burlingame and his wife Nicky of Weedville; a daughter, Raeanne Amell and her husband Gib of Port Allegany; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Vern Burlingame of Ft. Meyers, Fla., and Dick Burlingame of Altoona. In addition to his parents, Leo R. and Neva Summerson Burlingame, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Michael Lutheran; a grandson-in-law, Matt Burke; and a sister, Patricia Burlingame, in infancy.Visitation for Leo William "Bill" Burlingame will be held at the Barnett Funeral Home in Emporium on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 4 p.m., with the Rev. Joseph Short, pastor, First United Methodist Church, officiating. A military service will be accorded by the Cameron County Memorial Detail following the funeral service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Olkosky-Jessop Post 194, 427 East 3rd Street, Emporium, PA 15834; or to the Loyal Order Of Moose Lodge #368, 524 E. Allegany Ave., Emporium. Online condolences may be placed at www.BarnettFuneralHome.net. Barnett Funeral Home, Inc., is entrusted with arrangements.